Torsional splitting and the four-fold barrier to internal rotation: The rotational spectra of vinylsulfur pentafluoride.

Vinylsulfur pentafluoride (VSPF), a molecule with a four-fold internal rotor, -SF4, has been studied with high resolution Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. We believe that this is the first report of resolved four-fold internal rotation. As such, we have presented the tools needed to understand and analyze such a problem. These include debugging the ERHAM computer program necessary to fit the spectra and the free rotor to high barrier correlation diagram necessary to understand the torsional states of the four-fold rotor. The A, E, and B torsional state rotational transitions are well resolved and assigned. Spectroscopic transitions of four isotopologues of VSPF, H2C=CH-SF5, the normal isotopologue, and the singly substituted 34S and 13C isotopologues were measured and assigned. Contrary to expectation, the A torsional state could not be fit with only a semi-rigid Hamiltonian. The barrier to internal rotation, V 4, is found to be 227 cm-1. Ab initio calculations at the MP2 aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory and basis set were performed and the results of this calculation are compared to our experimental results.

Molecular symmetry group analysis of the low-wavenumber torsions and vibration-torsions in the S1 state and ground state cation of p-xylene: An investigation using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and zero-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy.

For the first time, a molecular symmetry group (MSG) analysis has been undertaken in the investigation of the electronic spectroscopy of p-xylene (p-dimethylbenzene). Torsional and vibration-torsional (vibtor) levels in the S1 state and ground state of the cation of p-xylene are investigated using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and zero-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy. In the present work, we concentrate on the 0-350 cm-1 region, where there are a number of torsional and vibtor bands and we discuss the assignment of this region. In Paper II [W. D. Tuttle et al., J. Chem. Phys. 146, 124309 (2017)], we examine the 350-600 cm-1 region where vibtor levels are observed as part of a Fermi resonance. The similarity of much of the observed spectral activity to that in the related substituted benzenes, toluene and para-fluorotoluene, is striking, despite the different symmetries. The discussion necessitates a consideration of the MSG of p-xylene, which has been designated G72, but we shall also designate [{3,3}]D2h and we include the symmetry operations, character table, and direct product table for this. We also discuss the symmetries of the internal rotor (torsional) levels and the selection rules for the particular electronic transition of p-xylene investigated here.

Electron delocalization in polyenes: a semiexperimental equilibrium structure for (3E)-1,3,5-hexatriene and theoretical structures for (3Z,5Z)-, (3E,5E)-, and (3E,5Z)-1,3,5,7-octatetraene.

Electronic structure theory reveals that π-electron delocalization increases with the chain length in polyenes. To analyze quantitatively this effect a semiexperimental equilibrium structure has been determined for trans-hexatriene by the mixed estimation method. For this fit rotational constants for a number of carbon and hydrogen isotopologues as well as a high-level ab initio structure have been used. The accuracy is 0.001 Å for bond lengths and 0.1° for bond angles. For the three isomers of octatetraene, high-level ab initio calculations have given a comparably accurate structure. These structures have been used in comparison with the structure of s-trans-butadiene to show that "C═C" bonds increase in length and "C-C" bonds decrease in length as the polyene chain lengthens. These structural effects of π-electron delocalization increase toward the center of polyenes. Most likely, π-π conjugation in the molecules studied plays a large part in their planarity that, in turn, forces the hydrogen atoms of cis fragments in bay regions to be in a close contact. Their distance is indeed shorter than the sum of their van der Waals radii, and they seem to participate in a six-membered ring.

Accurate equilibrium structures for piperidine and cyclohexane.

Extended and improved microwave (MW) measurements are reported for the isotopologues of piperidine. New ground state (GS) rotational constants are fitted to MW transitions with quartic centrifugal distortion constants taken from ab initio calculations. Predicate values for the geometric parameters of piperidine and cyclohexane are found from a high level of ab initio theory including adjustments for basis set dependence and for correlation of the core electrons. Equilibrium rotational constants are obtained from GS rotational constants corrected for vibration-rotation interactions and electronic contributions. Equilibrium structures for piperidine and cyclohexane are fitted by the mixed estimation method. In this method, structural parameters are fitted concurrently to predicate parameters (with appropriate uncertainties) and moments of inertia (with uncertainties). The new structures are regarded as being accurate to 0.001 Å and 0.2°. Comparisons are made between bond parameters in equatorial piperidine and cyclohexane. Another interesting result of this study is that a structure determination is an effective way to check the accuracy of the ground state experimental rotational constants.

Semiexperimental equilibrium structures for cis,cis- and trans,trans-1,4-difluorobutadiene by the mixed estimation method and definitive relative energies of the isomers.

Equilibrium molecular structures accurate to 0.001 Å and 0.2° have been determined for cis,cis- and trans,trans-1,4-difluorobutadiene by the semiexperimental mixed estimation method. In this method, structures are fitted concurrently to equilibrium rotational constants and bond parameters obtained from an intermediate level of electronic structure theory. The effect of fluorine substitution on the carbon backbone of butadiene is surprisingly small. Definitive energy differences for the ground states were computed, employing the focal-point analysis (FPA) technique, between the trans,trans and cis,cis isomers (ΔH°0 = 5.6(3) kJ mol(-1)) and the cis,trans and cis,cis isomers (ΔH°0 = 3.2(2) kJ mol(-1)) of 1,4-difluorobutadiene. These differences confirm the exceptional relationship that the trans,trans isomer has the highest energy and the cis,cis isomer the lowest energy, endorsing what was reported earlier on the basis of experimental observations in benzene solution.

Microwave and infrared spectra, adjusted r0 structural parameters, conformational stabilities, vibrational assignments, and theoretical calculations of cyclobutylcarboxylic acid chloride.

The FT-microwave spectrum of cyclobutylcarboxylic acid chloride, c-C4H7C(O)Cl, has been recorded and 153 transitions for the (35)Cl and (37)Cl isotopologues have been assigned for the gauche-equatorial (g-Eq) conformation. The ground state rotational constants were determined for (35)Cl [(37)Cl]: A = 4349.8429(25) [4322.0555(56)] MHz, B = 1414.8032(25) [1384.5058(25)] MHz, and C = 1148.2411(25) [1126.3546(25)] MHz. From these rotational constants and ab initio predicted parameters, adjusted r0 parameters are reported with distances (Å) rCα-C = 1.491(4), rC═O = 1.193(3), rCα-Cß = 1.553(4), rCα-Cß' = 1.540(4), rCγ-Cß = 1.547(4), rCγ-Cß' = 1.546(4), rC-Cl = 1.801(3) and angles (deg) τCγCßCß'Cα = 30.9(5). Variable temperature (-70 to -100 °C) infrared spectra (4000 to 400 cm(-1)) were recorded in liquid xenon and the g-Eq conformer was determined the most stable form, with enthalpy differences of 91 ± 9 cm(-1) (1.09 ± 0.11 kJ/mol) for the gauche-axial (g-Ax) form and 173 ± 17 cm(-1) (2.07 ± 0.20 kJ/mol) for the trans-equatorial (t-Eq) conformer. The relative amounts at ambient temperature are 54% g-Eq, 35 ± 1% g-Ax, and 12 ± 1% t-Eq forms. Vibrational assignments have been provided for the three conformers and theoretical calculations were carried out. The results are discussed and compared to corresponding properties of related molecules.

Microwave, infrared and Raman spectra, r0 structural parameters, ab initio calculations and vibrational assignment of 1-fluoro-1-silacyclopentane.

The microwave spectrum (6500-18 ,500 MHz) of 1-fluoro-1-silacyclopentane, c-C(4)H(8)SiHF has been recorded and 87 transitions for the (28)Si, (29)Si, (30)Si, and (13)C isotopomers have been assigned for a single conformer. Infrared spectra (3050-350 cm(-1)) of the gas and solid and Raman spectrum (3100-40 cm(-1)) of the liquid have also been recorded. The vibrational data indicate the presence of a single conformer with no symmetry which is consistent with the twist form. Ab initio calculations with a variety of basis sets up to MP2(full)/aug-cc-pVTZ predict the envelope-axial and envelope-equatorial conformers to be saddle points with nearly the same energies but much lower energy than the planar conformer. By utilizing the microwave rotational constants for seven isotopomers ((28)Si, (29)Si, (30)Si, and four (13)C) combined with the structural parameters predicted from the MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) calculations, adjusted r(0) structural parameters have been obtained for the twist conformer. The heavy atom distances in Å are: r(0)(SiC(2)) = 1.875(3); r(0)(SiC(3)) = 1.872(3); r(0)(C(2)C(4)) = 1.549(3); r(0)(C(3)C(5)) = 1.547(3); r(0)(C(4)C(5)) = 1.542(3); r(0)(SiF) = 1.598(3) and the angles in degrees are: [angle]CSiC = 96.7(5); [angle]SiC(2)C(4) = 103.6(5); [angle]SiC(3)C(5) = 102.9(5); [angle]C(2)C(4)C(5) = 108.4(5); [angle]C(3)C(5)C(4) = 108.1(5); [angle]F(6)Si(1)C(2) = 110.7(5); [angle]F(6)Si(1)C(3) = 111.6(5). The heavy atom ring parameters are compared to the corresponding r(s) parameters. Normal coordinate calculations with scaled force constants from MP2(full)/6-31G(d) calculations were carried out to predict the fundamental vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, Raman activities, depolarization values, and infrared band contours. These experimental and theoretical results are compared to the corresponding quantities of some other five-membered rings.

Gas-phase Raman spectra and the potential energy function for the internal rotation of 1,3-butadiene and its isotopologues.

The gas-phase Raman spectra of 1,3-butadiene and its 2,3-d(2), 1,1,4,4-d(4), and -d(6) isotopologues have been recorded with high sensitivity in the region below 350 cm(-1) in order to investigate the internal rotation (torsional) vibration. Based on more accurate structural information, the internal rotor constants F(n) were calculated as a function of rotation angle (ϕ). The data for all the isotopologues were then fit using a one-dimensional potential energy function of the form V = (1)/(2)∑V(n)(1 - cos ϕ). Initial V(n) values were based on those generated from theoretical calculations. The agreement between observed and calculated frequencies is very good, although bands not taken into account were present in the spectra. The energy difference between the trans and gauche forms was determined to be about 1030 cm(-1) (2.94 kcal/mol), and the barrier between the two equivalent gauche forms was determined to be about 180 cm(-1) (0.51 kcal/mol), which agrees well with high-level ab initio calculations. An alternative set of assignments also fits the data quite well for all of the isotopologues. For this model, the energy difference between the trans and gauche forms is about 1080 cm(-1) (3.09 kcal/mol), and the barrier between gauche forms is about 405 cm(-1) (1.16 kcal/mol).

Ab initio coupled cluster determination of the equilibrium structures of cis- and trans-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1-difluoroethylene.

The equilibrium structures of cis- and trans-1,2-difluoroethylene and 1,1-difluoroethylene, C(2)H(2)F(2), have been determined with high-level coupled cluster techniques combined with large basis sets, explicit consideration of core/valence, and scalar relativistic and higher order correlation effects. Excellent agreement was found with new semiexperimental structures, increasing the level of confidence in both approaches. Differences in bond lengths among ethylene and the fluoroethylenes are discussed.

Infrared spectra of CF(2)=CHD and CF(2)=CD(2): scaled quantum-chemical force fields and an equilibrium structure for 1,1-difluoroethylene.

Infrared (IR) spectra in the gas phase are reported for CF(2)=CHD and CF(2)=CD(2) in the region 350-4000 cm(-1). Ab initio calculations of an harmonic force-field and anharmonicity constants have been made with an MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ model. These enable a number of Fermi resonances in each species to be analyzed and a complete set of "observed" harmonic frequencies to be derived. The latter are combined with similar data for CF(2)=CH(2) in a scaling of the model harmonic force field to both anharmonic and harmonic frequencies. Inspection of the scale factors reveals minor defects of the model, evident in the out-of-plane wagging modes and in the CF stretch/CF stretch interaction force constant. Fermi resonance treatments involved in all isotopomers studied are compatible with the overall force-field refinement results. The treatment leaves a small anomaly in the (13)C shift on nu(1). Improved microwave spectra are reported for five isotopic species, and a semiexperimental equilibrium structure for F(2)C=CH(2) is determined and compared favorably with the structure obtained from new high-level ab initio calculations. Centrifugal distortion constants are predicted for the five isotopic species, and those for F(2)C=CH(2) are compared with values fit to microwave spectra.

Microwave spectrum, r(0) structure, dipole moment, barrier to internal rotation, and Ab initio calculations for fluoromethylsilane.

The microwave spectra of seven isotopomers of fluoromethylsilane, CH(2)FSiH(3), in the ground vibrational state were measured and analyzed in the frequency range 18-40 GHz. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were evaluated by the least-squares treatment of the observed frequencies of a- and b-type R- and b-type Q-transitions. The values for the components of the dipole moment were obtained from the measurements of Stark effects from both a- and b-type transitions and the determined values are: |mu(a)| = 1.041(5), |mu(b)| = 1.311(6), and |mu(t)| = 1.674(4) D. Structural parameters have been determined and the heavy atom distances (r(0)) in Angstroms are: Si-C = 1.8942(57) and C-F = 1.4035(55) and the angle in degree, angleSiCF = 109.58(14). A semi-experimental r(e) structure was also determined from experimental ground state rotational constants and vibration-rotation constants derived from ab initio force fields. The internal torsional fundamental, SiH(3), was observed at 149.2 cm(-1) with two accompanying hot bands at 138.8 and 127.5 cm(-1). The barrier to internal rotation was obtained as 717.3(16) cm(-1) (2.051(46) kcal mol(-1)) by combining the analysis of the microwave A and E splittings and the torsional fundamental and hot band frequencies. Ab initio calculations have been carried out with full electron correlation by the second-order perturbation method with several different basis sets up to MP2/6-311+G(d,p) to obtain geometrical parameters, barriers to internal rotation, and centrifugal distortion constants. Adjusted r(0) structural parameters have been obtained by combining the ab initio MP2/6-311+G(d,p) predicted values with the determined rotational constants for the fluoride as well as with the previously reported microwave data for the chloro- and bromo- compounds. These experimental results are compared to the corresponding parameters for the carbon analogues.

Vibrational spectroscopy of 1,1-difluorocyclopropane-d0, -d2, and -d4: the equilibrium structure of difluorocyclopropane.

IR and Raman spectra are reported for 1,1-difluorocyclopropane-d0, -d2, and -d4, and complete assignments of vibrational fundamentals are given for these species. These assignments are consistent with predictions of frequencies, intensities, and Raman depolarization ratios computed with the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ quantum chemical (QC) model. Ground state rotational constants for five 13C and deuterium isotopomers, obtained from published microwave spectra, were "corrected" into equilibrium rotational constants. The needed vibration-rotation interaction constants were computed with QC models after scaling the force constants. A semi-experimental equilibrium structure, fitted to the equilibrium moments of inertia, is rC1C = 1.470(1) A, rCC = 1.546(1) A, rCF = 1.343(1) A, rCH = 1.078(1) A, alphaFCF = 109.5(1), alphaFCC = 119.4(1) degrees, alphaHCH = 116.7(1) degrees, alphaC1CH = 117.4(1) degrees, and alphaCCH = 117.1(1) degrees. This structure agrees within the indicated uncertainties with the ab initio structure obtained from an extrapolated set of CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVnZ calculations except for rCC = 1.548 A. The F2C-CH2 bonds are significantly shortened and strengthened; the H2C-CH2 bond is significantly lengthened and weakened.

Equilibrium structures for butadiene and ethylene: compelling evidence for pi-electron delocalization in butadiene.

Equilibrium structures have been determined for s-trans-1,3-butadiene and ethylene after adjusting the rotational constants obtained from rotational spectroscopy by vibration-rotation constants calculated from the results of quantum chemical calculations. For butadiene, the formal C=C bond length is 1.338 A, and the formal C-C bond length is 1.454 A. For ethylene, the C=C bond length is 1.3305 A. These values appear to be good to 0.001 A. It is shown for the first time that pi-electron delocalization has the structural consequences of increasing the length of the formal double bond by 0.007 A and decreasing the length of the formal single bond by 0.016 A. Comparisons are made with structures computed with several quantum chemical models. The MP2/cc-pVTZ results agree best with the new re structure.